Ecclesiastes (Reformed Expository Commentary | REC)

by Douglas Sean O’Donnell

Publisher:

P&R

, 2014

Overview

Ecclesiastes raises questions that face all people everywhere: We live in a busy world, but does our busyness have a purpose? Will the tyranny of time render all our labor pointless? If our efforts are doomed by death, how are we supposed to live in the meantime? Douglas O’Donnell turns to Ecclesiastes to show us that lives of seeming futility “under the sun” become filled with joy and meaning if we live “under the rule of the Son.” O’Donnell argues that wisdom literature is best seen through the teachings of Jesus, who said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) Abandoning illusions of self-importance, putting aside all pride, and embracing divine wisdom are central and meaningful preaching themes found in Ecclesiastes.

Contents

Top Highlights

“I believe the best way to read Ecclesiastes is as (1) God’s wisdom literature (2) with a unified message (3) that makes better sense in light of the crucified, risen, and returning Christ.” (Page 4)

“First, we must read Ecclesiastes as God’s wisdom literature.” (Page 4)

“To that helpful reading strategy, we may add that if we read the book through the lens of Jesus Christ—the true embodiment of wisdom who has crushed the curse of death on the cross, brought hope through his resurrection, and will bring justice at his return—we actually understand the book better. Put simply, the best way to read Ecclesiastes, as we have noted, is as (1) God’s wisdom literature (2) with a unified message (3) that makes better (but not perfect) sense in light of the crucified, risen, and returning Christ.” (Page 12)

“To review, there are three lessons to learn from our text. First, we should embrace the beauty of God’s comprehensive control of everything. Wow! Second, under the sunlight of God’s sovereignty, we should be holy and happy. Amen and amen. Third, because of God’s enduring, complete, and just providence, we should fear God.” (Page 77)

“Jesus Christ redeemed us from the vanity that Pastor Solomon so wrestled with and suffered under by subjecting himself to our temporary, meaningless, futile, incomprehensible, incongruous, absurd, smoke-curling-up-into-theair, mere-breath, vain life. He was born under the sun. He toiled under the sun. He suffered under the sun. He died under the sun. But in his subjection to the curse of death by his own death on the cross, this Son of God ‘redeemed us from the curse’ (Gal. 3:13). By his resurrection, he restored meaning to our toil. And by his return, he will exact every injustice and elucidate every absurdity as he ushers those who fear the Lord into the glorious presence of our all-wise, never-completely-comprehensible God.” (Pages 12–13)

Product Details

• Title: Ecclesiastes
• Author: Douglas Sean O’Donnell
• Series: Reformed Expository Commentary
• Publisher: P&R
• Print Publication Date: 2014
• Logos Release Date: 2017
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. O.T. Ecclesiastes › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9781596383982, 9781629950211, 9781629950228, 1596383984, 1629950211, 162995022X
• Resource ID: LLS:REC21EC
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:39:02Z

About Douglas Sean O’Donnell

Douglas Sean O’Donnell (MAs, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Wheaton College) is senior pastor of New Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois. In addition to serving as an instructor for the Charles Simeon Trust, O’Donnell is a member of the North American Patristics Society, the US Board of the Irish Bible Institute, the Center for Pastor Theologians, and the Evangelical Theological Society. He is the author of a number of books, including The Beginning and End of Wisdom, The Song of Solomon and Matthew in the Preaching the Word commentary series.